Identity of Speakers
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University of Central Florida Board of Trustees
Faculty/Staff
Other
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Rally or protest
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
University administration invoked formal speech code in response
University administration changed university policy as a consequence
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
In May 2024, student organizers at the University of Central Florida planned a pro‑Palestinian protest at the campus Memory Wall during graduation ceremonies. The demonstration aligned with national solidarity efforts tied to the Israel–Gaza conflict and aimed to spotlight concerns about justice, but it coincided with a major, highly attended university event.
In late April and early May 2024, UCF also hosted other peaceful pro‑Palestinian actions—sit‑ins, rallies, and public statements calling for divestment and a cease‑fire. While no arrests were made, these events generated discussion about the balance between public safety and expressive rights on campus.
In June 2024, the UCF Board of Trustees formally updated the campus camping and protest policy. The new policy explicitly banned overnight camping and erecting tents unless part of a university‑sponsored event with written approval, with violations subject to disciplinary action. Protests were limited to set hours—8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends—with an overall duration cap of five consecutive days. Tailgating at official sporting events remained exempt.
